Question: I suffered a head injury from a motor vehicle accident 40 years ago and the result was PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder. Is there any predisposition I have to Alzheimer's?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
The effects of head injuries vary, and can be seen years later. Without knowing more details about your injury, it is impossible to predict future problems you may experience.
PTSD can result from any traumatic event, but isn't usually caused by a single accident. It's more commonly associated with settings where recurrent trauma occurs, such as in a soldier at war who returns with PTSD related to his or her exposure to repeated risk or injury.
Alzheimer's disease is not always tied to a past history of traumatic brain injury, particularly after a single accident. Bipolar disorder and depression are not common side effects of a traumatic head injury, but are usually tied to genetics.
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